Patent Application
20190185114
This invention was not federally sponsored.
This invention relates to the general field of bodyboards, and more specifically, to a bodyboard capable of being used in aquatic environments with channels that contain programmable LED light ropes. The power for the LED light ropes come from a rechargeable battery and wireless charger, which can be wirelessly charged through a wireless charging transmitter. An optional solar panel embedded in the deck of the bodyboard recharges a battery which powers the solar lights. The goal of the invention is to provide a lighted bodyboard for use in water parks and wave pools, where the lights form some sort of decorative pattern, but to be tough enough to withstand the rigors of children playing with the boards in an aquatic environment.
First, it should be noted that the phrases “body board” and “bodyboard” are interchangeable. The priority document referred to them as “body boards”, but over time, the trademarked phrase “Boogie Board®” has fallen into disfavor and has been replaced with “bodyboard”. The channels of the body board, or bodyboard, are covered by a removable, water-resistant covering that waterproofs the board such that the electrical components are not damaged or destroyed by the surrounding water. It is contemplated that the channels in the bodyboard can be on some combination of the sides, top and bottom of the board, and can be effectively waterproofed. The LED's are powered by a battery that rests in a cavity in the bodyboard, where the cavity is also covered by a water-resistant covering, such that the key charging components are “sealed” into the board before it is sold. There is also a controller that regulates flow of electrical current from the battery to the LED light ropes or light strips. This controller can be manually operated on the bodyboard itself, or remote controlled through the use of RF frequencies. One or more solar panels embedded in the deck of the bodyboard, optionally, provide recharging power for the battery.
The general concept behind this invention is that it can be used with a variety of bodyboard sizes and shapes. While the average “adult” bodyboard—usually between 3′ and 4′ in length—is used for purposes of illustration in this application, it is also contemplated that the same technology could be used for smaller bodyboards that could be created for children.
Surfing and bodyboards have been known in the prior art for many decades. Surfboards can be decorated in a variety of ways, including airbrushing the foam blank and using different colors of resins. Bodyboards, on the other hand, are generally made from a molded piece of foam covered “skins” that cover the top, bottom, and sides. These skins can be of different colors, and have designs imprinted on them. One embodiment has fiberclad covers with, optionally, characters on the covers. As opposed to surfboards, which are generally rigid foam covered by epoxy resin or fiberglass impregnated with resin, bodyboards are made from a flexible foam core that bends when the bodyboard is subjected to the forces of an ocean wave.
There is prior art on the idea of putting lights on recreational boards. For example, US Publication No. 2014/0063828 to Roach teaches a skirt with LED's that can be attached to a stand-up paddle board. The current invention provides significant advantages over Roach, in that a skirt would not survive being pummeled by ocean surf. Also, the stand-up paddle board is a generally rigid board, like a surfboard, and molding or routing a channel into its side would not be economically feasible (hence, the use by Roach of a skirt).
Another relevant item of prior art is US Publication No. 2015/0217675 to Dayan. Dayan shows what appears to be a snow toy, complete with handles so the user can hang on. In the ocean, handles such as these would be ripped off quickly by the surf, and, indeed, could pose a problem to the user if he/she became entangled in a handle. Dayan also relies on a “light transmissive” foam with a lighting circuit embedded therein. The current invention does not require “light transmissive” foam, as the channel and the clear cover allow the light rope to transmit no matter what the opacity of the foam.
Dayan also discusses LED's that are partially embedded in the “core” and partially embedded in the shell. The current invention does not require any modification of “the shell” as the channel is covered by a removable cover. Dayan also teaches cutting the core with a knife to create the channel in which the LED sits. The current invention calls for the light channel to be molded into the foam core during its manufacturing process, so there is no need to a) endanger anyone who is using a (presumably) sharp knife to try to cut channels, and b) endanger the structural integrity of the board by cutting into it.
Dayan makes casual reference to the possibility of a solar panel, but not describe where it could be located or how it would function. The current invention limits any solar panel to being embedded in the deck (top side) of the bodyboard and to be flexible such that it does not break when the bodyboard is bent during use.
Thus, the invention is hereby presented. The invention is directed toward a bodyboard, used for use in aquatic environments, with one or more strings of LED light ropes disposed in one or more channels that have been molded into the top, bottom, and/or sides of the bodyboard during the manufacturing process of creating the core. The channels are covered with a water-resistant covering that protects the electrical components of the invention. The bodyboard also includes a cavity into which a battery is placed, where the battery powers the LED's, and means of controlling the LED's. The battery cavity is also covered by a water-resistant covering. There is, optionally, a flexible solar panel embedded into the deck of the bodyboard, that flexes as the bodyboard flexes during movement of the body board.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an enjoyable toy or a premium bodyboard for a youngster, amateur wave rider, performance artist, or any other person who would enjoy the invention who desires a bodyboard with colored, programmable LED light ropes creating a decoration on the bodyboard, where the bodyboard could be used in any aquatic environment.
Other objects of the invention include
a) allowing a manufacturer to customize the bodyboard to create a variety of colors and flashing patters with the LED light ropes during the manufacturing process,
b) an enjoyable toy to a youngster who desires a bodyboard with colored LED lights creating a decoration on the bodyboard, where the bodyboard could be used in any aquatic environment, where the colored LED's are powered by a rechargeable battery powered inductively through an outside electrical transmitter.
c) providing a waterproof, permanent, transparent or translucent covering over the channels in an alternative embodiment of the idea, and as an additional embodiment, containing an optional solar-powered, waterproof battery that is contained in a non-removable compartment, such that it remains charged from the solar cells attached to it, where the solar cells are flexible, and embedded into the deck of the bodyboard, and,
d) providing a bodyboard that is manufactured with a wireless charging system embedded into a cavity in the body board during its manufacturing process, such the watertight seal prevents water from damaging the battery and the other electrical components.
In generally, the bodyboard is used for enjoying aquatic environments, and has one of more strings of LED lights disposed in one or more channels that have been molded or routed into the top, bottom, or sides of the body board. The LED's are powered by a rechargeable battery pack disposed in a wireless charger cavity in the bodyboard, along with a wireless charging receiver and an LED controller, which is covered by a watertight bodyboard sealant cover to prevent water from damaging the electronic components. In particularly preferred embodiments, the bodyboard core is white beaded polypropylene foam and a P9242-R 15W wireless charging transmitter is used to charge a P9221-R 15W wireless charging receiver, or similar inductive charging parts.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.
One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, a P9242-R 15W wireless charging transmitter is used to charge a P9221-R 15W wireless charging receiver. These particular wireless chargers and wireless receivers were specifically selected based on their light weight and ability to rapidly charge a rechargeable battery. This allows for a user of the invention to quickly recharge the batteries and get back out in the water more quickly.
In another particularly preferred embodiment, the body board is made from white beaded polypropylene foam. This material is significantly more rigid than standard polyethylene foam and will dampen the bending of the board, which can be detrimental to the LED strips. The denser foam will also reflect more light back into the channel, as there will be less light “spilled into” the foam, as is the case with less dense foam.
It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.
All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.
This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 15/362,414 filed Nov. 28, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15362414 | Nov 2016 | US |
| Child | 16280175 | US |
